To prevent a repeat of the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget, the presidency yesterday said it was prepared to forward next year’s budget appropriation bill to the National Assembly for ratification.
A top source in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari was ready to sign the 2016 budget as soon as the appropriation committee completes its task of addressing the grey areas pointed out in a number of sectors.
The source who said that the president was deeply upset about the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget expressed delight that the lawmakers are working on the irregularities pointed out by the executive and the lawmakers as well.
According to the source, the current delay is not caused by the executive.
The presidency was also said to have begun extensive work on the 2017 appropriation document and would be ready to transmit it to the lawmakers so as to prevent a repeat of budget delay next year. However, the source said that the priority remained the passage of the 2016 budget before focusing on the 2017 fiscal plan.
“We are happy that the National Assembly has accepted responsibility and offered to take a look at the grey areas of the 2016 budget. Mr. President is particularly pleased with this position.
“We are not in anyway pleased that the budget has not been passed up till now. This was not our making at all. In fact, as we speak, we have begun detailed work on the 2017 appropriation document to make it ready to be forwarded to the National Assembly. But we can’t do that just yet because the 2016 budget is being awaited.
Final work is currently ongoing before it is brought to the president for assent,” the presidency source said.
On the relationship between NASS and the presidency, the source said that it was cordial, noting that much of what appeared as misunderstanding between the two arms of government was escalated by the media.
“The presidency and NASS are in constant touch. We have a very cordial relationship. I believe what happened was that the press did so much speculation and got the lawmakers to be responding to media reports. We have an understanding and we are confident that the two arms of the legislature would fully harmonise and come up with the 2016 budget that the executive can defend,”
Source: Naira Land.
A top source in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari was ready to sign the 2016 budget as soon as the appropriation committee completes its task of addressing the grey areas pointed out in a number of sectors.
The source who said that the president was deeply upset about the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget expressed delight that the lawmakers are working on the irregularities pointed out by the executive and the lawmakers as well.
According to the source, the current delay is not caused by the executive.
The presidency was also said to have begun extensive work on the 2017 appropriation document and would be ready to transmit it to the lawmakers so as to prevent a repeat of budget delay next year. However, the source said that the priority remained the passage of the 2016 budget before focusing on the 2017 fiscal plan.
“We are happy that the National Assembly has accepted responsibility and offered to take a look at the grey areas of the 2016 budget. Mr. President is particularly pleased with this position.
“We are not in anyway pleased that the budget has not been passed up till now. This was not our making at all. In fact, as we speak, we have begun detailed work on the 2017 appropriation document to make it ready to be forwarded to the National Assembly. But we can’t do that just yet because the 2016 budget is being awaited.
Final work is currently ongoing before it is brought to the president for assent,” the presidency source said.
On the relationship between NASS and the presidency, the source said that it was cordial, noting that much of what appeared as misunderstanding between the two arms of government was escalated by the media.
“The presidency and NASS are in constant touch. We have a very cordial relationship. I believe what happened was that the press did so much speculation and got the lawmakers to be responding to media reports. We have an understanding and we are confident that the two arms of the legislature would fully harmonise and come up with the 2016 budget that the executive can defend,”
Source: Naira Land.
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